European Stag Beetle
Scientific Name: Lucanus cervus
Order & Family: Coleoptera: Lucanidae
Size: 35 to 92 mm for males; females are smaller
Natural Habitat
Deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens with old trees and rotting wood
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on tree sap and nectar; larvae feed on rotting wood, especially oak
Behavior Patterns
Males use large mandibles to wrestle rivals for mates; active mostly at dusk in early summer
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to ecosystem as decomposers that recycle nutrients from dead wood
Identified on: 6/28/2026